SPORTS BRIEFS

Agencies

Fri, Feb 09, 2018 - Page 16

GOLF

Rumford leads Perth by two

Australian Brett Rumford yesterday launched the defense of his ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth title in style by grabbing a two-stroke lead at the end of the opening round of the unique event. The 40-year-old Perth native carded an eight-under-par 64 to stay ahead of former world No. 1 Lee Westwood and Australian James Nitties. Last year, Rumford led from start to finish to win the event, which features three days of stroke play after which the top 24 advance to Sunday’s match play knockout phase. “I just think there’s some golf courses just suit your eye and others don’t,” Rumford said after making 10 birdies and two bogeys in his round at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club. “It’s not always the case, but generally you find as a trend that a lot of players go back and play well when they’ve had a lot of good performances there, and this is one of them. I don’t know what it is, but it definitely seems to be some kind of home course advantage... I’m leading, I’m inside the top 24 and that’s my only focus this week, finish inside that number.

SOCCER

Sevilla head to Copa final

Joaquin Correa and Franco Vazquez on Wednesday scored as Sevilla advanced to a second Copa del Rey final in three years following a 3-1 aggregate victory over CD Leganes. After a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg, Correa fired Sevilla ahead in the tie when he tucked home a cutback from Luis Muriel with 15 minutes gone at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Leganes had last month stunned European champions Real Madrid to progress to the semi-finals of the domestic cup competition for the first time in the club’s 90-year history. However, the modest outfit from the Madrid suburbs saw their dream run come to an end when Vazquez finished off a counterattack in lethal fashion one minute from time to complete a 2-0 win on the night. Sevilla are to meet either holders Barcelona, who beat the Andalusian side 2-0 after extra-time to lift the trophy in 2016, or Valencia in the final on April 21. Ernesto Valverde’s Barca were yesterday to head to the Mestalla for the second leg after a Luis Suarez goal handed the Catalans a 1-0 advantage in the tie.

SOCCER

Eintracht crush Mainz 3-0

Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday booked their place in the DFB Pokal semi-finals with a 3-0 derby win at home over FSV Mainz 05. Three mistakes from the visitors gifted Frankfurt their goals, and Mainz also had Danny Latza sent off late for a rash challenge on Marco Fabian. Mainz goalkeeper Rene Adler was at fault for Frankfurt’s opener in the 17th minute. The former Germany goalkeeper lost control of a simple back-pass from Stefan Bell and Ante Rebic pounced before receiving the ball back from Marius Wolf to score. Alexander Hack then scored an own-goal early in the second half and followed it up with a defensive blunder that allowed Omar Mascarell to make it 3-0 after an hour played. Latza’s red card ended any pretense of a contest, and furious Mainz fans berated their team after the final whistle. Schalke 04 grabbed the last semi-final spot after an early goal from Guido Burgstaller was enough to secure a 1-0 win at home over VfL Wolfsburg. Burgstaller scored on a counterattack in the 10th minute, turning one way then another to elude Jeffrey Bruma before shooting inside the far post.